Skip to main content

About Price Submission 2026

Price Submission 2026 will detail our services and prices for 2026-2031. Our essential services include water, sewerage, waterways and drainage. This must be approved by the Essential Services Commission (ESC).

We're in the decade that matters. The actions we take now will define our future so we can continue to protect the resources essential to Melburnians’ way of life.

That's why we're developing our price submission with customers and communities across Greater Melbourne. This is so that we balance customer values and affordability with delivery of services to meet current and future challenges.

Understanding what matters most to you

We’re talking with customers and communities across Greater Melbourne about their water priorities, and their voices are shaping our submission.

We’re committed to placing your interests at the centre of this process so we can truly deliver valued services that meet your needs.

There will be several ways to share your views and help shape our future water journey. Follow this page via the button at the top to know about upcoming opportunities.

What we've heard so far

  • Community Panel

    In May and August, around 60 people attended our community panels for Price Submission 2026. The community panel is a representative group of people from across Greater Melbourne and is a voice for our community.

    They discussed the key challenges facing the water sector. These challenges include population growth, climate change, equity, ageing infrastructure, caring for country, and protecting and enhancing the environment.

  • Surveys

    We heard from over 3000 community members to identify their values and investment priorities across three surveys. Follow this page to be the first to hear about survey insights.

  • Emerging community priorities

    Some of the communities' priorities so far include:

    • safe and reliable water and sewerage systems,
    • consider all possible water sources when planning for our water future supply,
    • caring for and protecting the environment, rivers, creeks and bays now and in the future,
    • supporting healthy waterways,
    • adapting to climate change,
    • keeping bills as low as possible,
    • and engaging with the community and having meaningful partnerships.

Who are we engaging with?

Through 2024 and early 2025, well deliver a range of activities to understand the needs of our customers and the broader community. We're engaging with:

  • community
  • local councils
  • water companies
  • Traditional Owners
  • direct service customers
  • consumer advocacy groups
  • development and planning industry
  • government and its agencies

Our engagement activities include deliberative panels, online, in face-to-face meetings and forums, and via surveys.

Learn more about our services

Our four key services are delivered in partnership with stakeholders and our community to support Melbourne’s way of life today, tomorrow and for generations to come.

Melbourne Water respectfully acknowledges the Bunurong, Gunaikurnai, Taungurung, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and water on which we rely and operate.
We pay our deepest respects to their Elders - past, present and emerging.